Finding French Culture in Charlottesvile: Sweet Liaison Lover

There’s something about the way that French sounds that mesmerizes me. Maybe it’s the sweet liaisons or throaty ‘R’s’ that entice me. I’m perpetually in awe when I hear smoothly flowing French. When I came to college, I initially intended to only take enough French classes to satisfy the area requirements, but after traveling to Montreal I quickly realized that I needed more instruction with the language in order to engage in fluid conversations. I then decided to study abroad in Morocco and obtain a minor in French Language and Literature. For me, forming genuine connections with people is a precious experience that I absolutely cherish. Language is a wonderful tool to actualize this. I still fumble with the language, but it’s the awkward moments that motivate me to work harder and keep learning. One of my aspirations is to live and work in West Africa, which is one reason why I’ve decided to learn French as a way to render living and working in a Francophone country more accessible. 

Posted by: Itohan Omorodion, AFC Stagiare

Finding French Culture in Charlottesville: De la 10eme Arrondissement à Charlottesville!

Meet Claudia, another "stagiare" or intern at AFC!

Claudia is a third year Foreign Affairs and French major. The French lifestyle has been, to some degree, instilled in her since birth as her father is French. Many of her summers were spent on her grandparents balcony in the 10th Arrondissement in Paris and the city holds a very special place in her heart. She hopes to be able to use both her majors in order to study and work in France in the coming years.

For Claudia, French culture isn't necessarily something you just find in France, rather its appreciating and wanting to know more about French language, food, movies or music that builds up the idea of the culture no matter what part of the world you're from. She loves the idea of the Alliance Francaise because it brings the aspects of being French to places where it normally wouldn't be accessible. 

Posted by: Claudia Kuchler, AFC Stagiare

Stagiare AFC

Meet Kelsey, stagiare at the Alliance Francaise de Charlottesville!

This upcoming spring, Kelsey will graduate from the University of Virginia two majors: French Language & Literature, and Global Environments & Sustainability. This past spring and summer, she was able to combine her passions for French and the environment through an internship with the Hydrology & Geochemistry Laboratory of the University of Strasbourg, located in the heart of the capital of Alsace.

Of all of the things she loved about her experience in France, she misses the coffee the most, along with spaetzle--the equivalent of Alsacian macaroni and cheese. Her favorite thing about Alsace was the uniquely mixed French-German architecture, particularly that of the Petite France sector of Strasbourg. She hopes to return to France after graduation to continue to continue working with renewable energy sources and international relations.

New AFC Blog Series! Finding French Culture in Charlottesville...

New AFC'ville Blog Post Series:

"Finding French Culture in Charlottesville"

We're on a mission.

And you're invited.

Join us every Monday as we uncover the hidden & unexpected 

French culture in Charlottesville.

Whether people, food, or custom, we know it's out there 

and we're looking forward to revealing them to you here

every week on our blog.

Stay tuned, you may just find you know the people and places

we're about to share with you...and that they are lovers

and practioners of...all things French; just like us!

Come with us as we discover a new way to unite our community,

through French!

A bientôt!

PS: Want to be a part of the fun? Let us know, we'd love to post your story on our blog: info.afcville@gmail.com